Electric clock



April 935. A. w, HAYDON ETAL 1,999,692

ELECTRIC CLOCK Filed June 1, 1954 9 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS April 30,1935. A.,w. VHAYD ON ET AL ELECTRIC CLOCK Filed June 1, 1954Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS April 3 ,1935. A. w. HAYDON HAL 1,999,692

ELECTRIC CLOCK Filed'June 1, 1954 s Sheets-Sheet s M lug n oy 6/ 65 awwyn ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 30, 1935 i UNITED" STATES PATENT m ELECTRICCLOCK Arthur wu'um Haydon and Albert Beichenbach, Waterbury, 0onn.; saidReiohenbach assignor to said Haydon Application June 1, 1934, Serial No.728,501

20 Claims. (c1. ss-sa) This invention relates to improvements in rotoreccentrically of the axis thereof whereby alarm operating and controlmechanisms for as the rotor turns, these elements move outclocksand'includes an improved alarm clock in wardly by centrifugal force topositions where which both the time mechanism and the alarm they maystrike the alarm device. With this armechanism are operated by a singlesource of rangement, the amount of power consumed in 5 motive power. Ysounding the alarm is small and the operating Known forms of mechanicalalarm clocks cusspeed of the motor and hence the accuracy of tomarily.include separate sources of motive the time mechanism driven thereby isnot varied power for the timing and alarm sounding mechwhen the alarm issounded. We may use two or 1 anisms with complicated gear trains foreach more alarm actuator elements or clappers so de-e such source andmechanism. The driving means signed and mounted that difi'erent numbersof and gear trains of previously known electric these clappers engagethe alarm device or bell alarm clocks -are also complex, but theseclocks at diflerent axial positions of the motor rotor. also employseparate sources of motive power for In this manner, the frequency withwhich the time and alarm sounding purposes and the alarm alarm bell isstruck may be varied by the time 5 control apparatus ,is generally of avery commechanism, and alarms of periodically increasplicated nature. ag ing magnitude may be produced. I

It is the object of the presentinvention to prog The invention will bebest understood by refervide an improved and simplified alarm operatingence to the accompanying drawings in which an and control mechanism forclocks; It is a i'ur-. embodiment thereofhas been illustrated. Inthe 20ther object of theinvention to provide an imdrawings: 7 proved alarmclocl; in which a single source of Figure l is a sectional sideelevation of a clock motive power or driving device acts to operateembodying the present invention: both the time and the alarm soundingmecha Figure 2 is a front elevation on a smaller scale nisms and inwhich the alarm sounding mechaof the clock of Figurel:

nism is highly simplified. Various other specific Figure 3 is a rearelevation of the alarm device objects, advantages and characteristicfeatures and alarm actuating means 'of the clock; I vof the inventionwill be pointed out or will be- Figures 4, 5, 6 and I are respectivelyviews,

" come apparent as the description progresses. taken along the lines l4,B-I, 6-6 and 1-1 In general, the objects of the invention are of Figure1, and viewed in the direction of the 30 carried out by providing arotating element arrows; carrying at least one alarm actuator or clapperFigure 8 is a plan view, taken along the line thereon and mounted inclose proximity to an 8-8 of Figure", and viewed in the direction ofalarm device or hell, and by employing time the arrows; and

mechanism for controlling the movement of the Figure 9 is a sideelevation of the clock mecha- 35 rotating elementinto and out ofpositions where nism showing the alarm control means in the the alarmactuator strikes the alarm device. We operated position. I prefer toemploy the rotor of an electric motor Referring to the drawingathe clockdisclosed .as the r ta in element 01 the 1 p as embodying theinventionis mounted in a sub- 40 means, and to drive the time mechanism of thestantially cylindrical case "provided with the 40 clockby this samemotor, which is preferably of u ual 11 1 ll, crystal I: and rear plateIt, The

' the synchronous type. The rotary motion of the clock mechanism propercomprises generally a motor rotor. is continuous whereby the time mot rand larm devicea'ssemhiy A together with mechanism is driven at theproper speedwithout gm m ma control mechanism indicated I interruption,and the sounding oi the alarm is at B, 45 P f ly initiated andinterrupted y the 1118-1 The motor. may be of any suitable type butprefmovement of the rotor relative to'the alarm deerably ri es asynchronous motor of the vice or bell under the control of the timemechatype disclosed and claimed in Patent No.1,935,208, k 'nism andmanual control mean Th ro or m y issued to Arthur William Haydon,November 14,

60. be rm held i non-elem s. n 193:, or in Patent No. 1,917.1 issuedwaruimso ,siti on by the masnetic null x r ed th r n by William. Haydon,October 16, 1934. 1 As shown, the stator structure of the motor. 7 thismotor includes a stator comprising a central In a preferred embodimentof my invention. core i4 carrying a cup-shaped field element II t thevalarm actuating means comprises one or and a disc-shaped fieldelementll adjacent the more clapper elements loosely mounted on the oppositeends thereof, with an energlzing coil I! it mounted about the core andwithin the, cupshaped element 15, as shown. The cylindrical portion ofthe field element I5 is sub-divided into pole pieces at its rearwardedge and radial pole pieces on the disc-shaped element II are disposedin interleaving relationship with the cupshaped element pole pieces.Shading coils I8 are preferably disposedv on some of'the pole pieces ofthe cup-shaped element It whereby the motor has self-startingcharacteristics. The motor rotor R. comprises a spider or disc I!carried by a shaft 20 which is journaled in a central opening throughthe core ll, as shown. The spider It carries a ring armature 2|preferably formed of hardened steel or other high hysteresis coemcientmaterial, which armature surrounds and lies adiacent to the ends of thepole pieces on the stator field elements I! and ii. The rotor shaft 2|is movable axially in its journals to a limited extent, and the magneticpull exerted by the stator field elements on the armature 2| tends tomaintain the rotor and its shaft in the position shown in Fig. 1 whenthe motor is energized.

The coil ll of the motor may be connected to a suitable source ofalternating current through the wires 22. The motor operates on thehysteresis principle as fully explained in the above noted patents, andsince the manner of operation of the motor forms no part of ,the presentinvention, it will not be described herein. It is sumcient to note thatthe motor operates synchronously, that is, in definitely timed relationto the frequency of the alternating current supplied thereto, and thatthe motor is capable of operating in this manner even though its rotorarmature 2! is moved axially to a positionwhere its inner face issubstantially aligned with the outer face of the stator structure.

The alarm device or bell 23 preferably comprises a cup-shaped element ofsuitable metal mounted on the central core ll of the motor stator. Asshown in the drawings, the core it passes through a central opening inthe alarm device 23 and this device is spaced from the stator element IIand from the adjacent gear train housing 24 by the washers 25. Thecylindrical wall of the alarm device surrounds the motor and terminatesat a point somewhat beyond the rearward end of the motor as shown. Astriking extension or lug 26 is fixed to or formed integral with thealarm device 23 adjacent its rearward edge, and this l'ug extendsinwardly adjacent the motor rotor as shown.

As explained above, we prefer to employ alarm actuators or clappersloosely mounted on the motor rotor, and in the disclosed embodiment,these actuators take the form of disc-shaped elements 21 and 28 locatedat diametrically opposite points adjacent the periphery of the rotor.The actuators or clappers 21 and 28 are attached to the rotor by flatheaded pins 2! riveted or otherwise securedtoaframeflwhichisfixedtotherotor spider is. The pins 29 loosely engage the central openings in theclappers 21 and 2|, and these openings are considerably larger than thepins passing therethrough whereby the clappers may move radially withrespect to the rotor. The arrangement is such that the clappers 21 andIt may freely move to and from positions in which their outer edges willstrike the lug II when the motor rotor is in a position to align theclappers with the lug. In the embodiment shown, the clappers are soconstructed that as the revolving rotor R moves axially rearwardiy ofthe clock.

first one and then both of the clappers 21 and 28 strike the bell lug2i, and the frequency and intensity of the alarm is thus different atdifierent axial, positions of the rotor. This result is accomplished byproviding an outwardly extending lug striking flange II at the rearwardedge of the clapper 21 and the similar outwardly extending lug strikingflange 32 at the forward edge of the clapper 28.

The shaft 20 of the motor is connected through a suitable train of gearsto the hands of the clock. In the particular clock construction chosento illustrate the invention, the more rapidly moving gears of the trainare enclosed in a housing 24 carrying a quantity of lubricant II. Thehousing 24 is preferably provided with a central opening in its rearwardface through which the forward end of the central motor core ll passes,and the housing 24 and alarm device 23 may be fixed to the motor statorby riveting over the end of the core l4 within the housing, as shown.The driving sequence through the gear train includes in succession themotor shaft pinion ll, gear II, shaft IO, pinion I1, gear ll, pinion 8!,gear ll, shaft ll, pinion 42, gear 43, shaft 6|, pinion ll, gear 48,pinion 41, gear 48. pinion I, and gear I. The last gear ll is-connectedthrough a sleeve I to the hour hand II of the clock. The gear 48 isconnected through a sleeve II to the minute hand 54 of the clock and thegear II is connected through the central shaft 4| to the sweep secondhand II.

The gear 0 is connected to the pinion 41 through a friction clutchrepresented by the washer 66, whereby the clock hands may be manuallyset by turning the pinion 41 independently of the gear 46 and thepreceding gear train. The mechanism for thussetting the clock hands willbe hereinafter described.

The alarm operation is initiated by the time means which governssuitable mechanism for moving the motor rotor R axially in a directionrearwardly of the clock in two steps, whereby first one and then both ofthe alarm actuators or clappers 21 and II are brought into strikingalignment with the lug II on the alarm device or hell :3. Axial movementis imparted to the rotor B through the motor shaft 2| by a circularseries of springs 5|, which are riveted to the clock dial H andcompressed between the inner surface of theclockdial ll andanalarmdiscllilxedto.

a sleeve Bl surrounding and movable on the hour hand sleeve SI. An alarmsetting indicator hand It is ,flxed to the sleeve H on the outer face ofthe dial H, as shown. .The disc 1 is provided with gear teeth about itsperipheral edge, and these teeth are normally engaged by a pinion llcarried on a shaft 6| which extends to the rear of the clock case andterminates in a setting knob 82. The shaft CI is normally held in aposition to engage the pinion l with the disc I! by a spring Icompressed between the pinion and the journal bracket N, and a collarll, fixed on the shaft OI, limits the forward movement thereof. Bydrawing the shaft Ii rearwardly against the opposition of the springs N,the'pinion OI maybeengagedwiththegearllandthaeupon rotation of the knob62 will turn the clock hands I! and I through the gear II, the pinion U(which is connected to the minute hand I), the pinion 40 and the gear II(which is connected to the hour hand I!) Asbestshowninl'igs.8and9-,therearward end of the sleeve II is provided with a cam surface nterminating in a stepped notchu. The

forward face of the hour hand gear It carries a pointed lug I disposedto bear upon the rear end of the sleeve ll. With the clock in anon-alarm sounding position, the lug it engages the face of this stepengaging the end of the lug 60. This shaft 44.-

struck once in each revolution .of

rearward movement of the disc II is transmitted to the motorshaft 20through the gear train Asshownini 'igurehtheforwardendofthe shaft 64carries a rounded knob I. which bears against the alarm disc l1, and theshaft It is held in its forward position by a spring ii compressedbetween therear wall of the housing 24 andadiscflwhichengagesaeollarlifixedto the shaft. Theshaftllis freetoturninthedisc 12, and the rearward axial movement of the shaft u is transmittedto the .disc I! by the collar ll. The rim of the disc 11 engages theforward end of the motor shaft ll as shown; The pinion ll on the shaftII and the pinion 4! engaged by the gear 48 on this shaft are ofsufiicient width so that the axial movement of the shaft 44 does notdisengage the gear train. Bimilarly, the width of the pinion I4 issuflicient to prevent its disengagement from the gear SI when the motorshaft moves rearwardly.

a with the construction described. the above explained initial rearwardmovement of the collar II and alarm disc I1 moves the motor shaft thealarm actuator or clapper 21 h aligned with the striking lug a of thebell II. and the bell themotor.turbingtheaccurateopera'tionofthetimemeeha tion to rotation offered bythe frictional engagementofthespringsltonthediscil.

Suitable manually operable means is provided for turning oil the alarmactuating mmhanism. In'the disclosed embodiment, this means takes theform of a yoke Y, the fingers illdtewhich bear cam surfaces, as shown inFigure 8. "The yoke Yiscarriedbyan arm ll flxedto asuitably iourinaledshaft It which extends rearwardly and terzm minates in a manuallyoperated crank. or lever l1 outside of the rear plate ll of the clockcase.

TheyokeYissodisposedthatasthearmilis moved to a vertical position,.asviewed in Figure lithe fingers ll embrace the sleeve It and thecamsurfacesonthesefingers engage anwasherliontherearwardfaceoithealarmdisei'l, movingthisdiscandthesleevellforwardagainst the opposition of the springs It.This forward movementofthediscl'ireleasestheshaftllwhichisthenmovedforwardbythespring'ii andthedisc l2 thusmoveaawayfromtheendof the motor shaft II. The magnetic pull exerted by the motor statorstructure on the motor armatureil immediatelymovestherotoritaxiallyforward and the alarm actuators or eiappers 21 and I! are thin drawn outclstrikim alignment theeostandeomplicationoftwoaeparatsdriving nism. Theactuation and cinnse in intensitythealarmbyaxialmovementoi'themtorresultslthereoLanalanndevicemountsdadiacentaa-id element tims mechanism andmeans actuated by said time mechanism for causing-ancient reIa- 'tivs'movement between said dement andmid alarm device to bring such parts-toa position where-said actuator engages said alarm device.

2.An alarm rotab able element, means-ior-ecntinumniy rotating saidelsmentanaisrmactuatorearriedinan.

eccentric position on said elementradiallyotsaideismentanaiarmdevieemmmted adiaeent said elem-st. timemechanism: and

mean'saotuakdbys'aidtimemechanism-forat times causing sufleient betweensaid rotating element and said alarm device to bring such parts to aposition in which said actuator engages said alarm device.

3; An alarm mechanism comprising a rotatable element, means for rotatingsaid element, an alarm actuator on said element and movable radiallywith respect thereto, an alarm device adjacent but spaced axially fromsaid element, and time mechanism for moving said element axially into aposition where said alarm actuator engages said alarm device during therotation of said element.

4. An alarm mechanism comprising a rotatable element, means for rotatingsaid element, an alarm actuator loosely mounted on said element andmovable radially with respect thereto, an alarm device comprising acup-shaped member embracing said rotatable element and having a strikingextension thereon adjacent but spaced axially from said element, timemechanism and means actuated by said time mechanism for moving saidelement axially into a position where said alarm actuator engages thestriking extension of said alarm device during the rotation of saidelement.

5. An alarm mechanism comprising a rotatable element, means for rotatingsaid element, an alarm actuator loosely mounted eccentrically on saidelement, an alarm device mounted adjacent said element, time mechanismand means actuated by said time mechanism for moving said element andsaid actuator into operative relation to said. alarm deviceto actuatethesame at a relatively slow rate and for thereafter moving said elementand actuator into a second operative relation to actuate the alarmdevice at a more rapid rate.

6. An alarm mechanism comprising a rotating element, at least two alarmactuators loosely mounted on said element and movable radially withrespect thereto, said actuators having striking surfaces spaced axiallyof said element. an alarm device mounted adjacent said element butspaced axially therefrom, time mechanism and means actuated by said timemechanism for successively moving said element axially to a position inwhich one of said actuators engages said alarm device and to a positionwhere both of said actuators engage said alarm device.

7. In an alarm mechanism, in combination, an

electric motor having a rotating member, a time mechanism driven by saidmotor, an alarm device, means directly connected to the rotating memberofsaid motor for at times striking said alarm device and meanscontrolled by said time mechanism for initiating the striking of saidalarm device by said means on said rotating member.

8. The combination of a time mechanism, an electric motor having a rotorfor driving the same; an alarm device axially adjacent said rotor, analarm actuator mounted on said motor rotor and means controlled by thesaid time mechanism for moving said rotor axially to actuate said alarmdevice.

9. The combination of a time mechanism, on electric motor having a rotorfor driving the came, an alarm device axially adjacent said rotor,

an alarm actuator loosely mounted on said rotor to move radially withrespect thereto and means controlled by said time mechanism for movingsaid rotoraxially into a position in which said actuator engages saidalarm device.

10. The combination of a time mechanism, an electric motor having arotor for driving the some, an alarm device axially adjacent saidrotonsn alarm actuator loosely moimted in an eccentric position on saidrotor and movable radially with respect thereto, and means controlled bysaid time mechanism for moving said rotor axially into a position inwhich said actuator engages said alarm device.

11. The combination of a time mechanism, an electric motor (or drivingthe same, said motor having a stator and an axially movable rotornormally held in close proximity to the stator by magnetic attraction.an alarm actuator mounted on said rotor, an alarm device having aportion thereof spaced axially of said rotor from said actuator andmeans controlled by said time mechanism for movingsaid rotor axiallyaway from the stator to cause the actuation of said alarm device by saidactuator.

12. The combination of a time mechanism, a synchronous motor for drivingthe same, said motor having a rotor cooperating with a stator to operateat synchronous speed in a plurality of axially spaced positions, analarm actuator carried by said rotor, an alarm device having a portionthereof spaced axially of said rotor from said actuator and meanscontrolled by said time mechanism for moving said rotor. axially fromone of said spaced positions to another to bring said actuator intoengagement with said alarm device.

13. In combination with a time gear train, on electric motor for drivingthe same, said motor having a stator and an axially movable rotor, analarm actuator carried by said rotor, an alarm device having a portionthereof spaced axially of said rotor from'said actuator and meansincluding a portion of said gear train for moving said rotor axially toactuate said alarm device by said actuator.

14. An alarm mechanism comprising the combination of a time gear trainhaving a portion thereof constructed and arranged to be shiftableaxiallywhile in operation, an electric motor for driving said gear train, saidmotor including a stator and an axially movable rotor, an alarm actuatorcarried by said rotor, an alarm device having a portion thereof spacedaxially of said .rotor from said actuator and means including saidaxially shiftable portionof said time gear train for shifting said rotorand the actuator carried thereby into a position to actuate said alarmdevice.

15. A motor driven alarm mechanism comprising an electric motor having arotor and a stator, an alarm device mounted on said stator, an alarmactuator mounted on said rotor, means for shifting said rotor axiallywhile the motor is operating and means for operating said alarm deviceby said alarm actuator when said rotor is so shifted.

- 16. A motor driven alarm mechanism comprising a synchronous electricmotor having a rotor and a stator, an alarm device mounted on saidstator, an alarm actuator mounted on said rotor, means for shifting saidrotor axially while the motor continues to operate synchronously andmeans for causing the operation-of said alarm device by said alarmactuator. when the rotor is so shifted.

17. A motor driven alarm mechanism comprising an electric motor having arotor and a stator,

- an alarm device mounted on said stator, an alarm eration of said alarmdevice by saidalarm actus ator when said rotor a ioshifted.

18. A motor driven alarm mechanism comprising an electric motor having arotor and a stator, a pair of alarm actuators mounted at diametricallyopposite eccentric positions on said rotor,

an alarm device mounted on said stator and hav-- ing a portion thereofspaced axially of said rotor from said actuators and means for shiftingsaid rotor axially to a position where said actuators engage saidportion of said alarm device while the motor is operating.

19. A motor driven alarm mechanism comprising an electric motor having arotor and a stator, two alarm actuators mounted eccentrically on saidrotor and relatively spaced axially and circumierentially or said rotor,an alarm device having a portion thereof adjacent but spaced axially ofsaid rotor from said actuators and means for axially shitting said rotorto successive positions in which first one and then both of saidactuators engage said alarm device while the motor device for engagementwith said actuator when said rotor is so shifted.

- ARTHUR WILLIAM HAYDON.

ALBERT REICHENBACH.

